"A guy like Ice Cube, who's multitalented, is someone we really wanted to be in business with," NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman tells Variety. "He's had an amazing career, to have gone from NWA to this."

Ice Cube will exec produce the untitled pilot with Matt Alvarez, his partner in production company Cube Vision. It's his first try at writing for television, although he has penned several film scripts, including "Friday" and "All About the Benjamins." For now, his involvement in the show will stay behind the scenes, though Silverman says he hopes to convince Ice Cube to appear on camera as well.

Cube most recently starred in " The Longshots," which he also produced. His other credits include "Three Kings" and "Barbershop."